How to Have a Really Fun Family Photoshoot at Home

Oct 30, 2025

If you’re a parent and you’ve ever thought taking family photos is stressful, I want to open your eyes to how beautiful and incredible a photo session at home can be.

As someone who has photographed thousands of families over the last two decades, the most common objections I get to taking pictures at home is:

Feeling like your home space isn’t curated enough or decorated the way you want.
Living in temporary housing that doesn’t feel worth documenting.
Dreading the idea of having to deep clean everything beforehand.

Or perhaps the idea of doing photos anywhere but a pretty location outside just hasn’t occurred to you.

Whatever the reason you’re here, I’m excited to be the one to tell you that choosing to take family photos at home can actually be one of the most fun (and easiest!) places to do so. I find that especially for families who struggle to relax and be themselves during pictures, being at home is a great option because kids and parents feel a lot more comfortable there vs being in a public space.

And that safety allows for the opportunity to let go more.

Which reminds me of a phrase that has now become my brand philosophy -

When we let go of making things perfect, we make room for what’s real.

(which is what we need to make the best photos)

Anyway, here are my best tips for how to have a really fun photoshoot at home like this with you and your family!

Let go of all expectations

I’ve learned in life and at family photos, that expectations is the death of joy.

If you want to enjoy family photos at home, you can clean or dress up if you want to, but be sure to let go of all expectations of how you think photos is supposed to go in order to have a good time. Let go of all expectations for your partner and your kids - let everyone be themselves, whatever that looks like. And trust your photographer to be the one to guide you along the way if people are having a hard time.

Most of all, let yourself enjoy the surprise of whatever ends up happening.

Laugh off the chaos

Making family photos, it’s almost inevitable that things will go ‘wrong.’ Whether that looks like your toddler melting down for 45 minutes when the photographer arrives, your partner didn’t help clean the house like you wanted, someone spilled a purple drink all over the rug halfway through…

When it’s photo day, always revert to laughing in the face of whatever chaos happens.

I know it’s not always easy, but I guarantee you that if you can choose to laugh instead of losing it, your photographer will be able to make something absolutely incredible out of it (no matter what happens).

Make a list of all the things you love about your home

In the days leading up to family photos at home, make a list of all the things you love about your home.

The light that comes into a room at a certain time, the smudges all over the back windows from your children, a piece of furniture, a room itself…

Make a note in your phone or your journal and keep track of all the things you love and feel grateful for. And then text it to your photographer before the shoot so they can step inside your world and see it exactly in the way that you do.

Connect with your family beforehand

Before having photos at home, spend time connecting with your family. Feeling more in touch with each other will make photos at home feel that much more special (and easy).

For example:

Having a 1:1 bath with your little one.
Playing outside with the water table the way they love.
Going for a special sunset walk with each of your kids one day.
Texting the babysitter to watch the kids so you and your partner can go grab ice cream and go for a walk together.

I realize that life is busy, so it doesn’t have to be anything over the top. Even the smallest effort to put your phone in another room each day for a period of time and just being present together and going for a family walk can be really meaningful (even if everyone is arguing and clashing with each other, use it as an opportunity to practice laughing off the chaos so you can sit with appreciation for the fact that every one feels safe enough to be grumpy with each other).

Skip the fancy outfits

I feel like photos at home have to be casual. It feels too contrived to dress up in slacks and formal wear at home. Let yourself enjoy a morning or afternoon of no pressure for once and just enjoy being comfortable, and together. IF you want a few formal photos where everyone is dressed up, have those outfits ready to go for 15 minutes at the beginning to take those pretty pictures. And reward everyone with being able to put on their cozy clothes and chill the rest of the session.

Have it on a weekday

I never realized until my kids were in school how special it would feel to have a day off from getting up early, packing the lunches, getting everyone ready and out the door on time…

Taking a morning off of the normal school and work routine can be a really fun way to make family photos at home special.

To do this right -

Pack the lunches and have everything for work and school ready to go the night before.
Invite your photographer over at a time when you know everyone will naturally wake up.
Go about your morning routine nice and slow, let everyone be relaxed and enjoy being together.
At the end, let everyone get dressed, take pretty photos out on the front step, in the living room or out on your favorite walk.
Say goodbye to your photographer and go into school and work a little late. Go into your day feeling a little more relaxed and connected.

Have you ever had family photos taken at home?

Would love to have a conversation about it in the comments.

Chasing Joy Through Photography

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